Ink fountain for a die stamping press



Oct. 14, 1969 R. N. STEFFENS INK FOUNTAIN FOR A DIE STAMPING PRESS Filed April 10. 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 Sheets-Sheet R. N. STEFFENS INK FOUNTAIN FOR A DIE STAMPING PRESS n n n u a u a a3 0% #:ll: 1| 1. ||i1| I 1 l 1.11:} Kw. NQ

Oct. 14, 1969 Filed April 10, 1967 Oct. 14, 1969 R. N. STEFFENS INK FOUNTAIN FOR A DIE STAMPING PRESS 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 10. 1967 INVENTOR.

Oct. 14, 1969 R. N. STEFFENS 3,472,163

INK FOUNTAIN FOR A DIE STAMPING PRESS Filed April 10, 196'? 5 Sheets-Sheet F I 7 INVENTORJ 205537' N. STEFFE VS United States Patent 3,472 163 INK FOUNTAIN FOR A DIE STAMPING PRESS Robert N. Steffens, Essex Fells, N.J., assignor to The Cronite Co., Inc, North Bergen, N.J., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 629,434 Int. Cl. B41k 3/54 U.S. Cl. 101363 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An ink fountain for a die stamping press comprising a lower part having a well for supporting an ink pan, means to control the temperature of ink in the pan, and an upper part, releasably attached to the lower part and carrying ink roller means and drive means therefor, with the roller means projecting down into the ink pan, whereby the upper part as a whole with its roller and drive .means may be quickly detached from the lower part to permit cleaning of parts and interchange of ink, and obviating the necessity to separately remove the ink roller and drive means.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is for an ink fountain for die stamping presses.

In the process of die stamping to make engraved stationery, it is necessary to apply ink to the distributing roller of the press, which will distribute ink to the stamping die. Over the years, it has been the practice to use an ink fountain consisting of two opposed rollers running at somewhat different rates of speed, so that the ink is not only metered to the distributing roller; it is also milled while it is being applied. This is a common form of ink fountain which has been in use for a long time.

In the operation of the press, it is frequently necessary to change colors on the fountain, or on the other hand also at certain times to wash up and clean out the ink which is in the fountain regardless as to Whether the color change is desired or not. It has been necessary on fountains presently in use to take the fountain completely apart by unscrewing all of the various components of the fountain and then, and only then, can the ink pan be removed. The reason that it could not be removed without taking the fountain apart is that the level of the edges of the pan must of necessity be higher than the bottom of the large roller which feeds the ink up into the milling action.

The work of taking the fountain apart and cleaning each member and putting the fountain all together again is tedious and time consuming. During this time the press stands idle in addition to the loss of time on the part of the operator.

In accordance with the present invention the ink fountain comprises a top frame containing the two ink rollers with their bearings and gears, all in a complete assembly, so that it can all be removed simply by quickly detaching the top frame from a bottom section of the fountain, which carries the ink pan.

Having once removed the top frame then it could be immersed in a suitable solvent for cleaning off the ink and left there. Then a second upper frame could be used and simply clipped on or attached to the lower section of the fountain. Meanwhile, of course, the ink pan could be easily removed because it is then accessible and a new pan containing ink of a new color could be installed before the second upper frame is clipped or attached into place.

In this manner, the change from one color to the other would occupy no more than perhaps a minute or two in ice place of the lengthy time required on fountains presently being used. In addition to this, since the contaminated upper frame is resting in a solvent, the solvent would dissolve off the ink while the press operator is running the second color and would then be more or less ready for another switch over back again.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for heating or cooling the ink fountain components. In the operation of the die stamping presses at the present time, frequently a situation arises where overnight the components of the fountain, ink and other items have become very cold. In some cases the temperature may drop as low as 60 or less. If the operator puts ink at such a temperature into the fountain, then in order to properly dilute the ink to running consistency at this particular cold temperature, then he must add a larger percentage of solvent than he would ordinarily add if the ink and components were warm.

Because of the fact that there is a milling action occurring in the fountain and because most factories are heated, as well, during the succeeding hour or two it occurs that the temperature of the ink in the fountain and the components may rise as high as and thus the consistency of the ink in the fountain is much softer and thinner than it was when the temperature was only 65 This change in temperature very greatly effects the quality of the finished impression which is die stamped on the paper. When the temperature in this instance has risen, then the ink will be powdery and lifeless on the sheet on which it has been die stamped. In fact, throughout the day, in order to maintain an exactly ideal impression on the paper, it would be necessary to constantly make changes in the consistency of the ink in the fountain in proportion to the temperature of the fountain at the moment.

Again in the summertime, in some cases, where water inks are used, the ink in the fountain heats up to such an extent that the ink tends to cake into the lines of a die. In this case it would be desirable to cool the fountain and its components.

It is therefore a further object of this invention to construct a well in the lower section underneath the pan of the fountain which will hold water. Then we feed water from a large container, fastened at just below the level of the fountain by means of a small pump through the fountain and out again into the container. The water in the container can be made either hot or cold or whatever temperature may be desired.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable apparatus of the character described, which shall be easy to assemble and disassemble, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof, with parts broken away and in cross-section;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof with parts broken away and in cross-section;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

3 FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a partial side view illustrating screw means to attach the upper and lower sections (shown at the left end of FIG. 4).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a frame of a die stamping press and 11 designates an ink fountain embodying the invention.

The ink fountain 11 comprises a lower section or support 12 on which an upper section 13 is removably mounted on the mount hereinafter appearing. The lower section comprises a well 14 having a bottom wall 15 from which two pairs of lugs 16 extend downwardly. Said lugs have inner shoulders 17 resting on the frame 10. One pair of lugs 16 has slots 18 to receive fastening means for attaching the well 14 to the press frame.

The well 14 has a front upwardly extending curved wall 20, a rear, upwardly extending wall 21 and parallel upwardly extending side walls 22, 23 interconnecting the ends of walls 20, 21. Integrally formed with bottom wall 15 are a pair of parallel elongated raised portions 27 parallel to side walls 22, 23 spaced closely thereto and terminating short of said front and rear walls 20, 21. Said raised portions 27 have coplanar horizontal upper surfaces 27a. A pin 29 is fixed to each raised portion 27 adjacent the rear end of the latter for the purpose hereinafter appearing. A lug 30 integrally formed with bottom wall 15, adjacent front end wall 20, projects upwardly above surface 27a and is located adjacent the front end of each raised portion 27. Said lugs 30 are integral with side walls 22, 23 as well as with the bottom wall 15.

Side wall 22 is formed with an elongated horizontal rib having upwardly converging side surfaces 35a and a top horizontal surface 35b. Rib 35 terminates short of the ends of side wall 22 and extends up from top horizontal surface 22a of said side wall. At its rear end, side wall 22 decreases in height to an upper edge 22b which is at the same level as upper end 21a of rear end wall 21.

Within the well 14 is an ink pan resting on said raised portions 27. Pan 40 has a bottom wall 41 from which extends upwardly, a forwardly inclined front wall 41a, a rearwardly inclined wall 42 and parallel side walls 43. Pin 29 prevents rearward movement of the pan while lugs 30 prevent forward movement thereof. Pan 40 extends up above the upper ends of walls 20, 21, 22, 23. Front wall 20 of well 14 has an upper horizontal edge 20a below the level of surface 22a of side wall 22. Side wall 23 has an upper horizontal surface 23:: at the level of surface 22a. Said side wall 23 is also reduced in height at its rear end as at 23b.

Side wall 23 is formed with an inlet opening near its rear end and above bottom wall 15; and also with an outlet opening 51 near lug 30 and above said bottom wall. Attached to opening 50 is a conduit 52 extending from a water pump 53 receiving water from a tank or water supply 54. Outlet opening 51 is connected by conduit 54 to a drain or water receiving receptacle 55. Water can be circulated through the well 14 to heat or cool the pan 40 as desired.

Said side wall 23 is formed with an opening 56 receiving one end of a stud shaft 57 on which is rotatably mounted a gear 58 fixed to a sprocket wheel 59 driven by a sprocket chain from any suitable drive. An inclined threaded opening 60 extends to opening 56 for receiving a set-screw 61 to fix shaft 57 to well 14.

Attached to wall 22 by screws are a pair of brackets 71. Brackets 71 each has an inwardly extending lug 72 disposed above surface 22a and formed with a vertical screw threaded hole 73 receiving a wing screw 74 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Removably mounted on the well 14 is an upper frame part 80 detachably attachable to the well 14 in the manner hereinafter appearing. Frame comprises a front portion 81 having a flat undersurface 82, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined front surface 83 and an upwardly and forwardly inclined rear surface 84. Surface 84 is contacted by the front wall 41 of pan 40. Flat surface 82 rests on the front ends of surfaces 22a, 23a. Extending rearwardly from front wall 81 of frame 80 are parallel integral side arms 85, 86. Arm 85 underlies wall 22 and at its undersurface has a groove 85a of V-shaped crosssection to receive rib 35 on wall 22. The undersurface of wall 86 is fiat and rests on top of surface 23a of wall 23.

Pan 40 has upper edges at its front end at the level of the upper edges 81a of portion 81, and at its rear end is somewhat raised, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing. Side arms 85, 86 have upper edges 88 at their front ends, upstanding intermediate walls 89 and rear end walls 90 of reduced height at their rear ends.

Walls 89 have upper edges 89a and are formed with upwardly opening, aligned, similar, rectangular notches 91 near the front ends.

Walls 89 of arms 35, 86 are formed on opposite sides thereof with horizontal elongated guide grooves 93 extending to the rear edges 89b of said walls. Rear edges 89b extend down to the upper edges of rear portions 90 of said arms 85, 86.

Fixed to the rear ends of walls 89 of arms 85, 86 and projecting rearwardly beyond rear edges 8% of said walls are horizontal pins 98 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Slidably mounted in notches 91 are bearing blocks 100 having vertical front and rear grooves 101 slidably engaging the inner vertical edges of said notches. Blocks 100 have U-shaped upwardly opening half bearings 103 supporting a horizontal cross shaft 104 on which is mounted a rocker 105. At one end of shaft 104 is fixed a gear 106 meshing with said pinion or gear 58.

Slidably mounted on walls 89 of side arms 85, 86 are bearing blocks 110 formed with guide ribs 111 receive in said grooves. Bearing blocks 110 have forwardly opening half bearings 112 engaging a cross-shaft 113 fixedly carrying a roller 114. Shaft 113 carries a gear or pinion 115, meshing with gear 106. Rollers and 114 contact. Roller 105 projects down into pan 40 to pick up ink as the rollers rotate.

Means is provided to bias bearing blocks forwardly (to the right looking at FIG. 3). To this end, a horizontal rearwardly extending pin is screwed to the rear end of each wall 89 between grooves 93 thereof. A plate contacts the rear end of each wall 89 and has an opening 126 through which pin 120 passes. A coil compression spring 127 on each pin 120 is interposed between plate 125 and head 120a of said pin. Plate 125 has an opening 128 to receive the pin 98. Each plate 125 projects above the upper edge of wall 89 and is formed with a threaded opening 129 through which is screwed a horizontal threaded pin 130 extending longitudinally of wall 89 in parallel relation thereto and spaced thereabove. A head 131 is fixed to the rear end of screw 130. A lock nut 132 is threaded on the threaded shank of the screw. The plates 125 are clamped to the rear edges of walls 89. The pins 130 press against the rear of the blocks 110 to bear against the ends of shaft 113.

Means is provided to clamp the frame 80 to the well 14. To this end arm 85 is formed with lugs disposed beneath portions 72 of brackets 71. The screws 74 may press down against said lugs 160. Attached to arm 86 is a hasp or clip 165. Said hasp comprises a plate 166 screwed to the outer surface of arm 86. Hinged thereto as at 167 is an arm 168 to which is hinged, as at 169, a hook 170 having an upturned finger 171 engaging beneath a lug 172 on the outer surface of wall 23. The hasp or clip may be of usual construction and is quickly actuated to release or to clamp. When arm 168 is raised, the finger 171 engages the lug 172 to clamp the parts together. To release the parts, arm 168 is swung down.

Means is provided to scrape the ends of the rollers. To this end said walls 89 are provided with upwardly extending lugs 180 project above edges 89a. Each wall 89 is formed with a hole 180a receiving a stem 18% on said lug 180. Said stems 180!) are pinned as at 1800 to prevent turning of the lugs 180. The lugs are similar and aligned with each other. They are formed with aligned horizontal bores 181. A pair of symmetrical scrapers 182 have horizontal pins 183 projecting through said bores 181. Each scraper has a flat vertical plate portion 184 projecting downwardly into pan 40 lying against the inner surface of a side wall 43. Extending inwardly from plates 184 are walls 185 having inner edges 186 having scraping contact with the ends of rollers 105, 114.

Set-screws 190 threaded in suitable threaded openings 191 in lugs 180 press against pins 183. Wall 185 substantially extends from shaft 113 to shaft 104, so that ink may be scraped from the ends of the rollers into the pan 40.

Ink is milled or ground between the rollers 105, 114. To obtain such grinding, the diameter of the large roller 105 is somewhat larger than the pitch diameter of its gear 106, and the diameter of the smaller roller 114 is somewhat less than the pitch diameter of its gear 115. The peripheral speeds of the rollers are thereby varied. The large roller then has greater peripheral speed than the peipheral speed of the smaller roller, to cause grinding. The friction between the rollers causes heat. Because of heat bad impressions are sometimes produced since the heat thins the ink. For this reason it may be necessary to circulate cold water through the well.

Hot water may be circulated to overcome the drop in temperature of the plant.

It will now be observed that the entire frame 80 with its rollers and bearing blocks and the scrapers, as Well as the gears and on the roller shafts, can be lifted as a unit off the well upon loosening screws 74 and unhooking the clips or hasps 65.

Heretofore the rollers and their drives had to be disassembled separately to remove the pan. The pan 40 has to be somewhat raised at its rear end to clear pins 29 and then may be clipped rearwardly (to the left looking at FIG. 5), to clear frame portion 81, before the frame 80 can be lifted up. With this construction, ink colors can be readily changed and the pan and whole frame and all the mechanisms may be cleaned easily and with hardly any loss of time as described above.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

I claim:

1. In combination, a support, means to mount said support on a die stamping press, an ink pan resting on said support, a frame, means to detachably attach said frame to the upper side of said support, rollers rotatably mounted on said frame, means on one of said rollers to rotate another of said rollers, with one of said rollers projecting down into said ink pan, and means on said support to rotate said one of said rollers, said support comprising a well adapted to hold water for controlling the temperature of ink in said pan, said well comprising a bottom wall and upstanding front, rear and side walls, said pan resting on said bottom wall and said upstanding walls of said well extending above the bottom of said pan.

2. The combination of claim 1, said frame having a front portion and side arms resting on upstanding front and side walls, respectively, of said well.

3. The combination of claim 2, one side arm having a groove and the upstanding wall it rests on having a rib received therein.

4. The combination of claim 3, said rib and groove being of tapered transverse cross-section.

5. The combination of claim 3, clip means interconnecting one side arm and a side wall it rests on.

6. The combination of claim 5, and screw threaded means to attach the other side arm and the side wall it rests on.

7. The combination of claim 1, and means to circulate water through said well.

8. The combination of claim 1, and said pan having upstanding walls projecting above said upstanding walls of said well.

9. The combination of claim 8, said frame comprising a front portion from which side arms extend, said front portion resting on the front upstanding wall of said well, said side arms resting on the side upstanding walls of said well, an upstanding wall of said pan overlying the front portion of said frame, and said pan being of less length from front to rear than said well, so that said pan can be moved within said well in a direction to clear said front portion of said frame.

10. In combination, a support, means to mount said support on a die stamping press, an ink pan resting on said support, a frame, means to detachably attach said frame to the upper side of said support, rollers rotatably mounted on said frame, means on one of said rollers to rotate another of said rollers, with one of said rollers projecting down into said ink pan, and means on said support to rotate said one of said rollers, said support and frame having interengaging rib and groove means, said rib and groove means being tapered in transverse crosssection.

11. In combination, a support, means to mount said support on a die stamping press, an ink pan resting on said support, a frame, means to detachably attach said frame to the upper side of said support, rollers rotatably mounted on said frame, means on one of said rollers to rotate another of said rollers, with one of said rollers projecting down into said ink pan, and means on said support to rotate said one of said rollers, and means to scrape the ends of said rollers, mounted on said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,333,962 11/1943 Terry 101-351 2,429,442 10/ 1947 Worthington 101-350 2,519,229 8/ 1950 Crafts 101-350 2,748,698 6/1956 Hanson et a1 101-350 3,155,037 11/1964 Haskin 101-364 3,230,877 1/1966 Birk 101-351 3,283,707 11/1966 Greubel et al. 101-364 XR ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner I. REED FISHER, Assistant Examiner 

